photos galore!

being the designated "historian", i found a gazillion photos and figured i'd follow dyo's footsteps and blog 'em! enjoy!

no more clubbing, now it's rooftop lounging 

i can't believe we tried to surf!! 

french dinner in NYC 8/2006, that's some pretty long sausages!

my 24th b-day at my house 

hahahah i remember this and D&B in 7/04, so very funny! 

i gather it wasn't a yummy shot? =P 

you know, what we need next is a sushi-making night! 

wow, this was 12/31/2004, i'm sure we all remember this night! 

america's top chefs at work!

yummy chocolate fondue! 

(attempt at) sukiyaki 

have you ever picked your bf's nose? heehee =P 

wish i could surf!!! 

santa cruz on thanksgivings 

piggy fest

turkey wknd is over and i've had my share of yummies!

Thurs - grilled albacore tuna melt with fries in santa cruz, then the traditional thanksgivings dinner from a store...not nearly as good as homemade, but hey, it was free! (turkey, stuffing, ham, yam, gravy, mashed potato, pies, green beens, etc)

Fri - sukiyaki and mochi ice cream dinner with friends

Sat - cheese fondue, broth fondue, and chocolate fondue with friends

at least i managed to squeeze in some tennis in there...but no badminton. it was fun times! can't wait til friends are all back for xmas holiday!

work is postponed...again!!

i finally got the start date of my job: december 18th. first they said i'd probably start in late oct/early nov, then nov 13, then early dec, and now dec 18th. why the delay?? "credentialing" was their reason...they have to do background checks on everything!!! it's such a pain...and of course the recruitment office doesn't care that i'm sitting at home getting poorer by the day. =( but now it's pretty set at 12/18, which means i at least get some xmas/new years pay, so that's good. so 3 more weeks of vacation, but i don't think i'll make any more travelling plans. #1, i'm seriously broke (school loans, new car, and insurance), and #2, with the little money i have, i think i'll spend it on black friday and get me some nice gadgets (want ipod, new cell phone, leather chair, portable gps--you guys all know i need it!). not all at once of course! so that's it for the newest news.

as for my daily life, there is nothing to report...so sad to waste these lovely free days away, but i just don't have that energy/time to make plans. plus it's getting brrrrrr colder by the days. but i know several of my friends are back for the turkey wknd, so gimme a call if you want to hang out.

oh, and new car update: will probably get the mazda 3 in metallic icy blue (baby blue). after much calling, finally got it from a dealer in so-cal for $300 under invoice, plus a $250 coupon off that, so i save $550 below invoice!! =) unfortunately it will have to be towed up to nor-cal, but he said he'd do it for free and no miles will be added to car. but for $550 below invoice (the best quote in nor-cal is $300 OVER invoice), i had to take it. hopefully everything the dealer said is true....we'll see!

yes i'm bored and it's 5:30am

10 Firsts
First Best Friend: probably Tammy or Grace from 5th/6th grade
First Screen name: cookiemonster!! and still is!
First Piercing: ears, though no longer =(
First Crush: probably 5th grade, but not serious crush til 9th grade
First CD: boyz ii men given to me by my bro?
First School: Loma Linda in Mt View for kindergarten
First House where you at: 6997 Blue Hill Drive, san jose 95129
First Pet: my one and only doggie
First Dog Name: chopin!!
First time doing something illegal: hrm....probably some sort of *innocent* theft when i was young

9 Lasts
Last Time You Smoked: never
Last Food You Ate: Walker butter cookies....yuummmm...=P
Last Car Ride: driving back from bf
Last Movie You Watched: the "Break-up" on DVD, sucked, so NOT a romantic comedy! but sure makes most relationship problems seem minor!
Last Phone Call: bf
Last text: earlier today, i always text!
Last CD You listened to: too long ago to remember...who owns CDs?
Last Bubble Bath You took: hmm…I am not sure if I ever had one…
Last Song You listened to: "Beautiful" by James Blunt. in fact, radu and i going to see him perform on Fri!

8 Have You Evers
Have You Ever Dated a Best Friend: no
Have You Ever Been Arrested: no
Have You Ever Been on TV: no
Have You Ever Cheated On Your B/F or G/F?: hrm, maybe??
Have You Ever Been on a Blind Date: i think so...didn't work out so well
Have You Ever Been out of the Country: yes
Have you ever fallen in love: perhaps

7 Things You are Wearing
1. glasses 2. old navy fleece jacket 3. t-shirt 4. old navy fleece pants 5. socks 6. undies 7. necklace

6 Things You've Done Today
1. went to test drive civic and mazda (again) 2. went to kfc for lunch 3. trained 2+ hours of badminton drills 4. yoga for 30 min 5. watched scrubs 6. subletted apt

5 Favorite Things
1. post-workout happiness 2. sleeping until whenever i want 3. getting into warm, clean smelling clothes or newly washed bedsheet/towels. 4. playing a good game of badminton 5. eating decadent food, esp desserts!

4 People You Most Trust [in no particular order]
1. parents 2. bf 3 and 4. a few of my closest friends

3 Things You Want to do Before You Die:
1. australia/new zealand 2. surf in hawaii 3. go all over europe (esp greece and italy)

2 Things you got for Christmas:
1. probably some gift certificate 2. candy

1 Person You Want to See: right now, probably radu since we had some disagreements earlier

go to tony roma's for your birthday!!

i just came back from tony roma's in SJ (moorpark and saratoga), and had to immediately write a raving review. I had a birthday coupon e-mailed to me for a "free entree", and today was the last day to use it. I wasn't able to make it to the restuarant until 10:45pm, and closing is at 11pm. Instead of being turned away, they welcomed us in, saying "hope you enjoy your dinner." Our server, Tania, was amazing. after quickly bringing out piping hot soft bread, she asked for drink orders. I then presented the coupon, thinking she'll start treating us badly knowing that we're not ordering two meals (i only had bf with me). but nope, she said that the coupon was good for ANYTHING on the menu!! so i had to splurge and get the triple combo with 9oz sirloin steak, grilled shrimp, half slab baby back ribs, and 2 sides (salad and loaded mashed potato), for $22.99. she had no questions, no looks of "what cheapos", just seemed genuinely happy to serve us! as we waited for our food (my bf got the half slab of baby backs), the manager came out and asked, "who's birthday is it?" i claimed it was me, and was ready to pull out my driver's license to prove it. but he (nor did anyone) ever ask for ID, instead, he handed me TWO coupons for free appetizers on a future visit!!! WOW!! the food came pretty quickly (only 2 other tables besides us at this late hour), and was above average. the salad was oh-so-fresh, the mashed potato was full of flavor, and the ribs are tender like always. the steak was perfectly done and juicy. after the meal, we were last table left, and i was already convinced that this was the best resturant to go to on a birthday based on the service. but it wasn't over!! the waitress came back, and asked, "would you like a dessert on the house for your birthday?" i said, "wow, this is too nice. but i feel bad, we're the last table left and it's saturday night!" she refused to take that as an excuse, and said it's her job to treat us right, and that it's my birthday. she then proceeded to list us every dessert on the menu, any of which would be on the house!!! so we indulged in a brownie sundae, so warm and gooey and yummy!! now i'm soo full and soo happy...what a great way to celebrate!

i've never been treated soo well on my birthday from any restaurant, and the courtesy that this restuarant offered was by far the BEST i've ever had in my 27 years of life! when we finally left at midnight, 1 hour past closing, even the busboys said good-bye and happy birthday to me! i left a generous tip, well deserved! all my buds should sign up for the free birthday coupon thing at http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/tnyrms/lp/join/join.asp. enjoy!! =)

desperation...

oh boy, i've become pretty pathetic. i've been going back and forth to kaiser to get all my pre-employment stuff done, and finally it's just about come to a close...and i think i may begin work as soon as 11/13. =( and i just realized that i would have been in CA for almost 2 months, and the furthest i've gone is to Santa Cruz or Berkeley!! so much for my "vacation"!! =( so out of desperation, i e-mail friends and even post on craigslist for a companion to go with me on a hawaii cruise (need two ppl to get discount), and believe it or not, i got 3 responses!! all male though...but they seem pretty legit (platonic). still, it does seem a bit scary to go travel completely randomly with a stranger, i wish i was more daring and gutsy! and more spontaneous and just went! but now it's too late...the only cruise that fits me leaves tomorrow, and i told the craiglisters that it's just too rushed. one said he agrees, but would be willing to give it a go next month or something. i guess i'll just have to make the best of my next and perhaps final week of vacation...i'm thinking of going to monterey/carmel, maybe bike across golden gate, or something...any ideas for short day trips?